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COSÁIN CHEOIL

Úna Monaghan Cosáin Cheoil Image Name: Úna Monaghan Cosáin Cheoil Description: Úna Monaghan Cosáin Cheoil

Cosáin Cheoil, Episode 4 of 6, RTÉ One, Friday 19th October at 8.30 pm

A new traditional music series on RTÉ One

A landmark 6 x 1/2 hour music series charting the interaction between tradition and innovation in Irish and Scottish traditional music over the past half a century, while showcasing an astonishing array of new cutting edge acts.

While firmly rooted in the tradition, a new fresh sound is driving a reinterpretation of our unique musical forms in Ireland and Scotland. From the perspective of the innovators, they’re adding value to the tradition, they’re giving it a new lease of life, and are making it relevant to a new generation, while bringing Irish and Scottish music to a whole new audience. Others innovate from within the tradition – they remain true to its core, and develop their own style and sound – putting a unique stamp on the traditional music they grew up with. Our music is always evolving, but to what extent does innovation detract from the tradition?

“I think there is enough of the basic core of pure traditional music that is strong enough to withstand the innovation and experimentation” Máirtín O’Connor

In this landmark 6 x 30 documentary series, we will accompany some of our most innovative musicians as they strive to balance the modern and the contemporary along the musical paths they have chosen. Interwoven with these interviews is an incredible collection of illustrative archive material, alongside performances from the cream of contemporary Scottish and Irish traditional musicians.

“International audiences need new sounds, new ideas, we can’t just give them the Bothy Band over and over again, we need to extend our creative muscles.” Niall Keegan

To accompany us on their musical paths, Cosáin Cheoil has assembled an extraordinary team of interviewees. Trailblazing musicians who have driven the amazing changes that have taken place include Donal Lunny, Phil Cunningham, Máirtín O’Connor, Donald Shaw, Peadar O Riada, Aly Bain and Micheál O Suilleabhain – all of them pushing boundaries and creating new sounds and musical adventures – from within and outside the tradition. Other younger musicians like Aidan O Rourke and Úna Monaghan, and groups like Talisk and Moxie are now at the forefront of change and innovation – and it begs the question, where will these musical paths bring us to in the future?

The reflections of our contributors provides us with a musical map of how this extraordinary metamorphosis has occurred over the past 60 years in the traditional music of Scotland and Ireland, and our performers provide a snapshot of where the tradition is at today.

Irish contributors include: Dónal Lunny, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Paddy Glackin, Zoë Conway, Lynette Fay, Neol Eccles, Peadar Ó Riada, Neil Martin, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Andy Irvine, Rónan Ó Snodaigh and Máirtín O’Connor.

Cosáin Cheoil features live performances from:

Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde

Zoe Conway & John Mc Intyre

Andy Irvine

Jarlath Henderson

Chris Stout & Catriona McKay

Rónán Ó Snodaigh

Emer O’Flaherty

Moxie

Eoghan Neff

Talisk

Damien O’Kane

Atlas

Úna Monaghan

LAU

Máirtín O’Connor Trio & ConTempo Quartet

Inyal

Cosáin Cheoil is an Irish Scottish co-production – funded by the Irish Language Broadcast Fund, RTÉ and MG ALBA, with the Scottish version, Iùl a’ Chiùil going out on BBC ALBA.